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Lollapalooza was evacuated around 2:30pm today, just like Pitchfork was cleared out two weeks earlier. This time the evacuation was proactive, unlike in 2012 when organizers made a belated decision to clear out attendees just before a storm hit the grounds.
Lollapalooza will briefly evacuate for a small storm. Head to the nearest exit & follow our social media for updates. http://t.co/q0oKKvff8d
— Lollapalooza (@lollapalooza) August 2, 2015
Seeing a gigantic purple Doppler blob headed directly for the festival, fest authorities made the call and Chicagoans poured out of Grant Park in one massive horde, inundating the bars, restaurants and hotels on Michigan Avenue and in the Loop. Winds lashed through downtown, but rain merely sprinkled down, barely wetting the streets (the White Sox game, taking place just south of the park, went on uninterrupted). The storm may have been anticlimactic, but Lollapalooza's concerns were justified—the suburb of Lincolnwood, just north of Chicago, did see some hail. The "small storm" quickly passed and in its wake was the same azure blue sky we've been enjoying all weekend. With an updated schedule available online, Lolla is officially back in business. Party on, Chicago.
The #Lolla gates will officially reopen at 3:30. The music will resume at 4p. We'll be updating the schedule shortly. Stay tuned.
— Lollapalooza (@lollapalooza) August 2, 2015
Check out photos from our favorite Instagram users during the evacuation:

1. The manageable early morning crowds
We've noticed this in previous years, but for a rather large number of (predominantly younger) Lollapalooza attendees, seeing music is secondary to walking around in search of friends and taking selfies. In the morning, this means there are usually more people walking up and down Columbus Ave or lounging in the shade than standing in front of stages. For those willing to endure the beating sun, it's easier than ever to snag a premium sight line in the A.M. - Zach Long
RECOMMENDED: Check out more photos from Saturday at Lollapalooza 2015
2. Django Django's unwavering harmonies
The British band's warbling synth lines and buoyant rhythms were swell, but the real draw of the early afternoon set were the simple yet delightful harmonies. At a time when backing tracks are the norm, it's a treat to hear a group of musicians that can collectively carry a tune with its own voices. - ZL
3. Coors' passive-aggressive advertising
Lollapalooza is a Budweiser-exclusive festival and has been for many years. But that doesn't stop MillerCoors (the massive conglomerate of Miller Brewing Company and Coors Brewing Company) from flying ad planes over the festival grounds with giant Coors Light banners. MillerCoors is headquartered right here in Chicago, and this may be the company's way of suggesting a shift in fest refreshments from Bud to the silver bullet. (Or at least making sure festivalgoers don't forget about them.) Honestly, it's all the s

1. BadBadNotGood jazzing up the afternoon
It's a little strange hearing cosmic jazz wafting from a stage at Lollapalooza. During a short set on the Pepsi stage, Canadian trio BadBadNotGood forced teenagers to wrap their minds around cascading keyboard solos and odd time signatures. Thankfully, the young musicians catered to their audience, slotting free jazz covers of tracks by Flying Lotus and Gucci Mane into an enthusiastic early afternoon set. - Zach Long
RECOMMENDED: Check out more photos from Friday at Lollapalooza 2015
2. Preemptive mulching
Anyone who has sacrificed a pair of shoes during the fallout from an inevitable downpour at Lollapalooza knows that Grant Park has a tendency to become a muddy mess. That's why we were happy to see patches of mulch already covering low lying areas near the Pepsi stage and in the north and south fields. It's unlikely to prevent the mud people from showing up, but it may help preserve the grounds (and a few pairs of sneakers). - ZL
3. Father John Misty's bored banter
Father John Misty spent about one song trying to make up for his lost voice with signature shimmies and coy looks at the crowd before giving up. "I'm depressed. How's that for onstage banter?" We can't really remember a time when FJM wasn't acting over it, but today really took the cake. "Sometimes I feel like a grotesque cabaret act of myself. I can't even bring myself to dance like a moron." (That's what he's best at!) "Then I look up and see that giant Bu

We kept our ears open this week and heard some hilarious things about Instagram, Arby's and scabs. Did you overhear something crazy this week? Email us or tweet us @TimeOutChicago with #wordonthestreet and you may find it in the next Word on the Street.

It’s summer’s last hurrah. Here are some art shows to help you make the most of it.
The Great Western
British graffiti and street artists EINE, Sickboy and Word To Mother have emerged as leading figures in the contemporary art world and are exhibiting for the first time in Chicago. EINE will also paint a 240-foot wall on S Wabash Avenue, and Sickboy will create all of his art in Chicago, including a customized pinball machine to play in the gallery. (Vertical Gallery, 1016 N Western Ave, Aug 1, 6–10pm. Free)
Field Study
Cosponsored with Openlands to advance a culture of conservation in urban and regional settings, the work in this Filter Photo Festival juried exhibition studies our larger ecological reality. (David Weinberg Photography, 300 W Superior St, Suite 203, Aug 7, 5:30–8pm. Free)
Ask the Oracle
The artists in this group exhibition construct paintings, sculptures and performances that address belief in non-conforming spirituality and a creative process through epiphanies. (Heaven Gallery, 1550 N Milwaukee Ave, Aug 7, 7–11pm. Free)
The Vernacular Photography Festival
The first of its kind in Chicago, this festival is a celebration of the art and collecting of vernacular photography, curated by Ron Slattery, one of the original collectors of Vivian Maier’s work. (Comfort Station, 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, Aug 7, 7–10pm. Free)
CrEATefest
Bring your appetite, creative energy, and dancing shoes to this indoor and outdoor festival benefiting Changing Worlds’ arts

Very soon, Lollapalooza will open its gates as a flood of music fans overtakes Grant Park for three days of music and fun set against a beautiful Chicago summer backdrop. It's a weekend we look forward to each year, and one we're seasoned pros at, our festival survival senses strong after more than a decade of trekking across Grant Park. But for the novice it can be a daunting weekend, full of pitfalls, possible bad decisions and a pretty bad sunburn if you don't have a little guidance before you enter the gates. Here are our top five things you should NOT do at Lollapalooza this weekend if you want to respect your fellow festivalgoer and guarantee you'll have a great time.
Leave your sunscreen at home
It isn't just an inspirational song from the late '90s, it's solid advice in everyday life and mandatory at Lollapalooza. The lengthy journey from festival end-to-end has little to no shade, so "Here Comes the Sun" will end up being a literal warning if Paul McCartney plays it this weekend. Crispy, painful skin and dehydration is no way to cap off your weekend, so lather up early and often.
Wake up in a porta-potty
Yes, Lollapalooza is party central for many, with three days of copious amounts of alcohol, dancing and live music under the sweltering sun. But nothing kills your buzz like a wicked hangover one day in, or worse, waking up in a porta-potty not remembering the last few hours. Trust us, no one likes dodging sloppy drunk strangers who might vomit at a moment's

Lollapalooza isn't the only event in town this weekend, and if you’re not one of the thousands who will be bartering for a square of toilet paper this Friday, you should check out the other great events going on in the city today.
1. See a gay porn pop musical
Stanley in the Name of Love debuts this week at Wicker Park’s Den Theatre. The absurdist dance pop musical follows a trailer-park twink on his journey to find love and, well, become a porn star. What more do we need to say? (The Den, 1329–1333 N Milwaukee Ave, 7:30pm. $20)
2. Laugh at your love life
We seem to have accepted our dependency on digital dating sites and apps, so we might as well have a good, hard laugh at ourselves and each other. Whether you’re playing the pixelated field or watching from the safety of an LTR, there’s a lot to laugh at in Second City’s interactive comedy, #DateMe: An OKCupid Experiment. (UP Comedy Club, 230 W North Ave, 8 & 11pm. $28–$33)
3. Surrender to the robots already
Embrace our not-so-distant future at the Museum of Science and Industry’s “Robot Revolution” today. Nearly 40 robots from around the world populate this interactive, super fun exhibit where you can build your own robot, challenge one to a game of blackjack or meet a drone. If you have kids this is a can’t-miss, but it’s fun as hell for adults too. (Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S Lake Shore Dr, noon. $9 kids under 11, $11 adults)

Tickets to Lollapalooza sold out before the lineup was even released this year, leaving thousands of eager music lovers to sift through the secondary market for a chance to see Paul McCartney, Metallica, Florence + the Machine and others rock out in Grant Park.
The face value of a three-day general admission pass to the festival is $275, but if you want to purchase a ticket now, you'll have to fork out a lot more cash. According to TiqIq, a secondary market ticket aggregator, three-day Lollapalooza passes are selling for an average of $677 from secondary sellers. That figure is up nearly $300 from last year, when people were coughing up an average of $394 for sold-out tickets.
When Lollapalooza was a smaller festival, single-day tickets were available at the gate for face value. With the rise of Internet scalpers and the rapid expansion of the festival in both size and popularity, finding an affordable Lolla pass is next to impossible. At this point, fans are stuck dropping a wad of Benjamins for the weekend of music.

As we move into the last leg of summer, the weekend lineup of food and music festivities is still bountiful. Grab some friends and hit up one of the largest music events of the year, or experience Latino culture in a multitude of ways. Whatever you choose to do, let us help guide you to some of the best festivals happening this weekend in Chicago.
You want to experience a carnival without leaving the city
Fiesta del Sol, one of the largest Latino festivals in the Midwest, is a vibrant celebration in Pilsen that memorializes the morning star as a proud symbol of the Mexican-American people. The weekend-long party features rides, music, art and hearty Mexican meals.
You're a music lover who thrives on gettin' down with a group—a very large group
Chicago hosts some of the best music festivals in the nation, and this year's Lollapalooza lineup is as impressive as ever. The Grant Park bash features headliners Sir Paul McCartney, Florence + The Machine and Metallica, as well as acts like Flying Lotus, Tyler, The Creator and Hot Chip. Yes, there will be large crowds and minimal cell reception—just focus on the music.
After Ruido Fest and Fiesta Puertorriqueñas, you're in the mood for even more Latin American culture
Thought you would encounter a weekend without a food fest? You thought wrong. Your taste buds are in luck, since this weekend hosts the Taste of Latin America, a foodie celebration of Southern Hemisphere fare, including dishes like fish empanadas, Brazilian

With all the uproar this week over a Minnesota man killing a famous Lion in Zimbabwe, one can't help but think that (for better or worse) there was no scandal whatsoever when a lion was "hunted" and killed in Chicago in 1909.
In that year, Col. Theodore Roosevelt left the White House and went on safari in Africa. Though Selig Polyscope, a Chicago-based film company, tried to make a deal to film the excursion, they wound up having to settle for filming a reenactment (which plenty of viewers mistakenly believed was the real deal, a misconception Mr. Selig did nothing to discourage). A lion bred in captivity was brought into a jungle created in the Selig studio at Byron and Claremont, where, having been bred in captivity, it seemed scared and confused. Toward the end of filming the $15,000 movie, the lion was shot and killed before the camera.
The movie, like almost all Selig Polyscope films, is now lost, though by all accounts it featured a lot of hand-shaking and a lot of Roosevelt saying "dee-lighted." Being a very different time, the fact that an animal had certainly been harmed in the making of the motion picture doesn't seem to have caused much of a stir.
More info on the shoot is at the Mysterious Chicago blog.

You should stop calling the three-way intersection in Wicker Park "Six Corners" and start calling it by its more fitting name of "The Crotch," which has been a popular moniker for the area for decades.

The Fly Honey Show, the annual raucous rock & roll, body-positive burlesque blowout produced by the multidisciplinary arts collective the Inconvenience, is growing from two weekends to three for its sixth annual installment next month at the Chopin Theatre.

Skokie's Northlight Theatre is adding a new production to its fall slate, and it's coming into the city to do so. Northlight artistic director BJ Jones will helm the world premiere of Philip Dawkins's Charm for a four-week run at the Steppenwolf Garage, October 14–November 8.

New Outdoor Film Series Comes To Navy Pier

With Movies in the Parks screening more movies than Netflix this summer Chicago really didn’t need another outdoor film series this year, but after seeing this best-of lineup we’ll gladly welcome another.

The intersection at Milwaukee, North and Damen in Wicker Park has undergone a huge boom over the past two decades. What was once a seedy, grungy area of the city is now a gentrified hub of boutiques, brunch spots and hopping nightlife. Like many three-way intersections along Milwaukee Avenue (and throughout Chicago in general), the cross streets create six corners instead of the conventional four. This has led many ignorant Chicagoans to call the intersection "Six Corners"—which has historically been the name of the Portage Park intersection of Milwaukee, Cicero and Irving Park.
You should stop calling the three-way intersection in Wicker Park "Six Corners" and start calling it by its more fitting name of "The Crotch," which has been a popular moniker for the area for decades. The etymology of the phrase is unclear, but it was likely born when the area was still seedy and grungy instead of the bourgeois neighborhood that it is today.
The Portage Park intersection has been referred to as the Six Corners Shopping Disctrict since at least the 1920s, according to Kelli Wefenstette, the interim executive director of Six Corners Association.
"I venture to guess that the people who refer to the Wicker Park intersection as 'Six Corners' aren't necessarily from Chicago," she said. "They don't necessarily know about the Six Corners in Portage Park and that it is a historic shopping district."
The real Six Corners was once a booming commercial area, where Northwest Side residents wo

When you leave Chicago, you quickly realize people in other places speak a completely different vernacular. Residents of the rest of the world don't follow the proper food conventions, make the right weather references or adhere to other cultural customs Chicagoans know and love. Here are 10 phrases that have a completely different meaning when said anywhere outside of Chicago.
"Sweet, hot and dipped"
Other places: A creepy approach to a stranger on Tinder.
In Chicago: A common way to order an Italian beef.
"The Hawk"
Other places: A predatory bird.
In Chicago: The wind.
"Square"
Other places: A polygon with four right angles and four equal sides.
In Chicago: A cigarette.
"Good beer"
Other places: Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada or another mediocre beverage from a big-box brewing company.
In Chicago: A tasty pint from a nearby brewery that was canned a week prior to consumption.
"C-Note"
Other places: A musical note.
In Chicago: A crisp $100 bill.
"Polish"
Other places: A description of someone from the eastern European country, Poland.
In Chicago: A hot meat stick covered in onions and mustard.
"LSD"
Other places: A psychedelic drug that induces an intense, self-reflective experience, man.
In Chicago: Lake Shore Drive.
"The Jewels"
Other places: A treasure that a pirate might seek.
In Chicago: An affordable grocery store chain.
"4am"
Other places: A time when no one should be awake.
In Chicago: When the last of the bars close (except for a few 5am licens

If you were raised in Chicago, the signs that you belong here are in your blood. But if you've moved here from elsewhere—even one of the suburbs—it could take a while to acclimate, to become a true Chicagoan.
Luckily, it doesn't take very long. Even if luck doesn't spring your way immediately, the process is not the thorough hazing one must undergo to successfully live in New York. There are still signs our fair city isn't for you. Chicago is much less about how much you can keep on your plate at once and more about what you're willing to put up with and keep a smile on your face. Maybe that's why the city basically turns into a laid-back beach town during the summer months. Chicago calls for a blend that's equal parts totally chill and nonchalant aggression. It's a hard balance to maintain. And without it, you might as well pick an end of the spectrum and flee to one of the coasts.
Without further ado, here are the telltale signs that maybe you're not gonna make it in Chicago.
1. You think it’s hot right now. Just wait until the humidity comes, you'll be begging for winter.
2. You think it’s cold and it’s December. Oh, the wind is blowing down your neck on Wacker Drive? Just wait until February when it'll slap you through your wool scarf.
3. You can’t handle working more than 40 hours per week. We live here partly for work-life balance, but face it, Chicago still has some of the highest standards in American work life.
4. You openly criticize the Blackhawks. We dare yo

The time has come. You’ve finally made it. Chicago! Life is different now—a little faster, brighter, at times smellier. It’s everything you hoped it would be and more. But little did you know, your new “normal” would soon have you memorizing the grid system and yelling at pigeons like it’s no big deal, while some of your more recent pastimes have become downright addictive and others push you outside your comfort zone. Here are just some of the things that will feel all too common soon after your arrival.
RECOMMENDED: Your guide to living in Chicago.
Running up steps to catch the El. There’s something fulfilling, exhilarating even, about running up stairs and just barely making it on the train.
Always trying new restaurants and bars. You'll never run out!
Waiting in line for aforementioned new restaurants. You don’t even care whether the wait is 90 minutes. You’ll just hover near the bar and try one of the myriad amazing cocktails while you wait to try the hottest new food.
Doing all of the things. Mamby on the Beach, Tour de Fat and Taste of Chicago, all in the same weekend? No problem. Let’s do all the things!
Attending meet-ups. Let’s face it. You’re new here, and you don’t know a lot of people, so you start joining clubs and going to neighborhood meetings you never would have considered before.
Texting people you barely know to meet for drinks. Would you like to be my friend? Text yes or no. (See previous.)
Marveling at all of the things on wheels. Bicycles, ska

Beginning August 1, a new law will take effect in Chicago that bans most retailers from offering their customers the option to carry out their goods in traditional plastic bags. The new law aims to cut down on the negative impacts of pollution caused by common improper disposal of these bags. This ban follows in the footsteps of other big cities that have enacted similar laws, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles. Here are some things you need to know about the ban before it starts next month, as well as some ways for you to prepare for it:
What stores will it affect?
Any store with a floor area of more than 10,000 square feet that is part of a "chain store organization," which is defined as three or more stores having common ownership, or any store that is part of a franchise. So basically, any big-box retail chain like Jewel, Kohl's, Best Buy, etc. Stores that do not fall within those categories, such as mom-and-pop shops and small convenience stores, as well as restaurants, do not have to adhere to the plastic bag ban.
Will stores still offer paper bags?
Yes, the law doesn't affect the distribution of paper shopping bags. But those are kind of annoying to carry around, and depending on what store you go to, they might not be very durable. And environmentally speaking (since that's the spirit of this law), paper bags can be just as harmful as plastic bags when you factor in the energy costs and production processes of plastic bags.
What can I do to prepare?
If you wa

Au Cheval! Big surprise, right? In our reader vote to determine the best burger in the city, Brendan Sodikoff's rendition reigns supreme. The burger, which was also just named the best burger in all of America by the Food Network, strikes a perfect balance between beef patties, cheese, dijonnaise and pickles. Even more good news—Sodikoff is bringing a version of the burger to Small Cheval, a new spot that will fill the old Roxie's By the Slice space this summer.

Last month, we gave you 27 life hacks to make living in Chicago a little bit easier. The article set off an ongoing stream of other shortcut suggestions. If we learned one thing, it's that everyone wants to save a little time and money—and everyone has a tip on how to do so. That being said, some of this behavior makes you a complete asshole. There's garden-variety bastard behavior, like placing dibs on a parking spot, but it takes a certain level of entitled assholeishness to pull off an act like the ones listed below. Mind you, these are all things that we have observed being done… and, okay, fine, have perhaps done ourselves in moments of foggy morality. So, if you're fine with being despised by waiters and baristas (trust us, we have been waiters and baristas and we loathed this behavior), consider these Do's. But in civilized society, these are Don'ts.
1. Upstream to get a taxiYou know the move. Especially if you go out in River North. You stand on the corner and watch someone in the middle of the block flag for taxi. When the fish is about to bite the hook, you jump out and snag the cab first. Okay, so this is a more a move to save time than money, but it is despicable.
2. Complain at a movie theater to get free passesHaving worked for a large multiplex chain, we can attest that employees are trained to just throw free passes at anyone who complains. So, after a show, head to manager and bitch about the sound, or a baby, or the power of the projector bulb, whatever. T

1. BadBadNotGood jazzing up the afternoon
It's a little strange hearing cosmic jazz wafting from a stage at Lollapalooza. During a short set on the Pepsi stage, Canadian trio BadBadNotGood forced teenagers to wrap their minds around cascading keyboard solos and odd time signatures. Thankfully, the young musicians catered to their audience, slotting free jazz covers of tracks by Flying Lotus and Gucci Mane into an enthusiastic early afternoon set. - Zach Long
RECOMMENDED: Check out more photos from Friday at Lollapalooza 2015
2. Preemptive mulching
Anyone who has sacrificed a pair of shoes during the fallout from an inevitable downpour at Lollapalooza knows that Grant Park has a tendency to become a muddy mess. That's why we were happy to see patches of mulch already covering low lying areas near the Pepsi stage and in the north and south fields. It's unlikely to prevent the mud people from showing up, but it may help preserve the grounds (and a few pairs of sneakers). - ZL
3. Father John Misty's bored banter
Father John Misty spent about one song trying to make up for his lost voice with signature shimmies and coy looks at the crowd before giving up. "I'm depressed. How's that for onstage banter?" We can't really remember a time when FJM wasn't acting over it, but today really took the cake. "Sometimes I feel like a grotesque cabaret act of myself. I can't even bring myself to dance like a moron." (That's what he's best at!) "Then I look up and see that giant Bu

Lollapalooza attracts more than 100,000 attendees each year, making it far and away the largest music festival in Chicago. Unfortunately, not all of the festivalgoers drink responsibly—especially those who are under 21.
According to a study from Lurie Children's Hospital, alcohol-related emergency room visits among teenagers peak during Lollapalooza weekend. Last year, 102 teens were treated for alcohol poisoning during the weekend of the festival, each with a blood alcohol level above .08, the adult limit for driving in Illinois. Some had levels of 0.32 to 0.4, the latter of which is considered potentially deadly.
Emergency room visits for underage drinking during Lollapalooza last year were more than double those during Spring Awakening, which had the second highest admission rates. St. Patrick's Day weekend brought 21 ER visits for underage drinkers last year, and the Skrillex trio of shows at Navy Pier last October was accompanied by 20 visits (surprise, surprise).
In an event as huge as Lollapalooza, some youngins are inevitably going to indulge in a few too many shots from a smuggled water bottle. While alcohol may make live music more enjoyable, it is certainly difficult to appreciate a set while blacked out.
So keep your shit together this weekend, Chicago, and drink responsibly.

Somehow, the stars crossed and Chicago lost out to New York on this one. Shockingly, Chicago ranked the ninth friendliest city in America while NYC placed second in Travel Zoo's friendliest cities survey.
Big whoop. At least we made it. At least we're sad the world doesn't think we're nice enough. But ninth? Ninth?!
The travel sales site quizzed about 8,000 of its users to rank the U.S. cities. Maybe 8,000 wasn't enough though. We believe in our heart of hearts that those 8,000 people are manifestly wrong. We are, in fact, much friendlier than New York and are fairly certain Chicago kicks New York's ass.
Regardless, here's how things shook out for cities across the U.S.
Travel Zoo
As for friendliest states, Illinois didn't fair so well, not even placing in the top 10. To be honest, we're not that miffed. The usual suspects dot the landscape. And, as usual, the Midwest is entirely left out.
Travel Zoo
The deal hunters at Travel Zoo may not know better, but we do. Rest assured, Chicago. Our home is one of the best places in the states for quick weekend getaways, we've got amazing beaches and summertime here is generally just the greatest. Chins up, Chicagoans. We'll win the next one.